Bukit Aman CID chief Christopher Wan has refuted the claims by Bintulu MP Tiong King Sing that the Sarawak police had failed to stem secret society activities in the state as they were harbouring them.

Wan said Sarawak police had in fact acted against gangster groups and secret societies, including detaining the leader of the "Hua Kee" secret society together with 13 of its members who were involved in extortion and other criminal acts in Sibu early this year.

"Eight of the members were charged in court under Section 364 of the Penal Code (kidnapping) and Section 395 (gang robbery)," he said in a statement carried by Bernama today.

Wan said Sarawak police had not neglected their responsibility in curbing underworld activities and assured the situation in Sarawak was safe and under control.

He advised the people there not to be unduly worried and that they should report to the police if they were threatened by any gangster group for immediate action to be taken.

Doing their best for country

The CID chief was responding to Tiong's claim made in Parliament on Thursday that the state police commissioner had failed to take any action against his officers, especially those in Sibu, who he alleged had been harbouring secret society activities.

Tiong had also asked the Internal Security Ministry and the Inspector-General of Police to act by replacing Sarawak Police Commissioner Talib Jamal immediately due to weaknesses in the state police force to check crime.

Wan said all police contingents, whether at the federal or state level, were always monitoring secret societies and had taken action from time to time.

"We have also taken drastic legal measures against any group which flouts the country's laws. We are doing our level best for the country," he added.